RECYCLE SOLUTIONS! My name is Jackie McCoy, and I'm here to help our Black Hills District Garden Clubs with their recycling needs! Take a moment to read my Welcome Message below that includes information about recycling. I'm happy to assist your club with recycling resources and ideas... so please contact me with your questions at: blackhillsdistrictbugle@gmail.com WELCOME MESSAGE

WELCOME Hello! I'm Debbie Spiller, your District Director for 2025-2027. I joined my first garden club in 1998, and I found being a member of a garden club to be very fulfilling. Through the years, I've learned so much about gardening, floral design, support of our community and have held positions on the Board of the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs. My theme for this term is "Gardening is an Act of Hope." As I embark on this journey, I'm excited about launching positive initiatives for our District Garden Clubs and keeping our district lively while increasing awareness of our clubs and communities. Please click on our District Newsletter "The Bugle" below to learn about our garden club activities! Thank you for visiting our website! FALL GREETINGS! Olympia Garden Club Merrie Makings are upon us! Click HERE to view the order forms for beautiful natural holiday decorations for your home, office or a gift for the upcoming holiday season. Welcome to the Fuchsia Fanciers, Budding Design Guild and The South Sound Dahlia Society as Black Hills District Affiliate Members! Click HERE to learn more about our new members. Note: "The Budding Design Guild" has a few membership openings. See their contact information - just click above. NOTICE! As of January 2026, the NexTrex company has revised their NexTrex Recycling Challenge Program . Click HERE to read more about the new program and how your Garden Club can participate in making our world a better place! Here’s a recommended reading list from our President, Debbie Spiller, on wildfire preparedness—key reminders for any disaster! Click HERE to access the latest "WACONIAH" Newsletter by the Pacific Region of Garden Clubs, which includes an article on wildfire preparedness pages 16-19. Additionally, refer to this Step-by-Step Guide , prepared by the WA Dept of Natural Resources on planting "fire-resistant plants" in Washington. Keep in mind, Fire-Resistant does not mean Fireproof! It's been a severe & disastrous year for wildfires in Washington State! Please take a few minutes to watch this video from the Fire Wise Series #4 presented by Pacific Region of Garden Clubs. Session #4 addresses "Personal & Family Preparedness before a Disaster." Click HERE to view the YouTube video on this topic. Click HERE for the "Wildfire Preparedness Resource" document to follow with the video. And please join the final live FireWise series on "Organizing Your Neighbors" on, Monday, September 14th at 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. PST. Click HERE to access the link to this presentation. Thank you to Linda Hass, WSFGC Environmental Concerns Chairperson, for sharing this important information. To read the current version of our newsletter "The Bugle" Click HERE . See our Special October 2026 edition of "The Bugle" addressing Ecological Resources! Click HERE . Click HERE for the FALL edition of NGC's "The National Gardener" Newsletter! Click HERE for the 2026 Summer issue of the Washington Garden & Design Newsletter! Click HERE for the current publication of the WACONIAH newsletter from the Pacific Region Garden Clubs, Inc. Attention Members : Check out the "Club Resource" webpage ( Click HERE ) for current publications of the NGC, WSFGC & BH's District newsletters and other helpful resource information for you and your garden clubs. The Club Resource page now lists WA State Botanical Gardens, and their contact information should you like to visit them with your club. Check it out! Also...the WSFGC 2025-2027 Awards Information Guide and current Award forms are one click away on this page, too!

Recycling Programs by County Cowlitz County, Washington Cowlitz County Recycling Site Residential Recycling | Eco-friendly Home Solutions Lewis County, Washington Lewis County Recycling Lewis County Website Community Recycle Events, Repair & Sustainability Fair, Workshops County Contact Information Melanie Case, Sustainability Program Coordinator Lewis County Dept of Public Works Solid Waste Utility P.O. Box 180/1411 S. Tower Ave. Centralia, WA 98531 360-740-1452 melanie.case@lewiscountywa.gov Thurston County, Washington Thurston County Solid Waste & Garbage & Recycling Check out the above link as Thurston County offers recycling programs for youth, community and specific issues that you clubs can volunteer or participate in. They include a section on Waste Less Food . Thurston County Public Works Rob Pudner, Recycling & Waste Specialist Thurston County Public Works 9605 Tilley Road S. Ste. C Olympia, WA 98512-9140 Phone: (c) 360-480-1376 (o) 360-867-2284 Website: ThurstonSolidWaste.org Information as of July 2025.

Event Announcements OLYMPIA GARDEN CLUB MERRIE MAKINGS IS UPON US! CLICK HERE FOR THE ORDER FORM ! They make lovely holiday gifts and are handmade by Olympia Garden Club Members!

2026 EVENTS October 29 Olympia Garden Club Location: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Rd, SE - Olympia WA 98501 General Meeting & Program ("An Introduction to Permaculture" by Marisha Auerbach 9:00 AM - 12:45 PM Plant Sales, Business Meeting, Sack Lunch, Program November 12 WSFGC Winter Board Meeting, Zoom November 12 Olympia Garden Club Location: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Rd, SE - Olympia WA 98501 General Meeting & Program (Autumn Small Designs by Debbie Spiller) * 9:00 AM - 12:45 PM Plant Sales, Business Meeting, Sack Lunch, Program *Bring your own clippers and scissors to the meeting to make an Autumn design! Nov 30-Dec 4 OGC Merrie Makings Workshops & Sales December 5 OGC Merrie Makings Pick-up December 10 OGC Christmas Party, Westminster Presbyterian Church

2026 2026 2026 2026 Black Hills District General Meeting & Flower Show September 18, 2026 Thurston County Fair Grounds Click HERE for more photos! And, HERE! And, one more time! Click HERE . Summertime with the Kelso Garden Club! Click HERE to read and see activities that the Kelso Garden Club have been up to this Summer. Black Hills District Flower Show at the Thurston County Fair Welcome "Budding Design Guild" A new Affiliate Member to Black Hills District. We appreciate everyone who joined the first 2026 Beginner's Flower Design classes on March 9th, 16th, and 23rd presented by the BHD Judge's Council. Students learned creative flower arranging is an artform in which the artist's vision is expressed through the use of plant materials. Using the elements and principals of design, students learned to create designs with beauty, harmony, distinction, and expression. The classes proved to be successful and aimed to inspire interest in a new BHD Design Guild! Click HERE for more information on how to join! For inquiries, please contact Debbie Spiller at: Dunespill@gmail.com. 2025 2025 2025 2025 The Olympia Garden Club hosted their annual Merrie Makings Program at the Lilly Road shop during the week of Nov. 17th. The "Merrie Makers" performed outstandingly and exceeded their goals ahead of schedule, even closing the shop two days early! The shop was filled with beautifully crafted wreaths, centerpieces, and festive holiday mugs in anticipation of order pickups on Saturday, the 22nd. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event enjoyable and successful! Olympia Garden Club - October 30, 2025 Meeting The OGC had a very fall and festive meeting that included Halloween costumes, delicious breakfast food items, beautiful horticulture specimens and an interesting and educational presentation by guest speaker, Steve Smith, President of the Pacific Northwest Peony Society. Steve Smith, Vicki Kammerer & Kathy Cook who coordinated Steve's presentation at the meeting. Thank you, Kathy! "Journey Through Wine Country" NGC Flower Show & Black Hills District General Meeting October 10, 2025 The flower show was presented by the Friendly Flower Garden Club at our Fall General Meeting for the Black Hills District of Garden Clubs. Here's photos taken of both events! Life Member Award presented to Debbie Spiller by JoAnne Sandell. Ikebana International - Tacoma/Olympia Chapter #147 Our "Fall" guys! Journey Through Wine Country! 2025 Thurston County Fair ...enjoy photos of the flower show that was hosted by Black Hills District of Garden Clubs . This year's theme was "Struct Your Stuff" and the "Peacock" (Disco Dave) was the featured bird for this year's county fair. If you have photos to share; please send them to Chris Hill, BHDGC's Website Editor, and they will be placed on this page. Chris' email is listed in the Olympia Garden Club's Directory or the WSFGC's Directory. Also, a big thank you to the BH's District club members who participated in putting this successful flower show together and to the WSFGC Flower Show Judges who came to Lacey, WA to judge this program. It sure proves that when we "team up" together, we make beautiful things happen!!! Here's Debbie Spiller's report for the 2025 Thurston County Fair Design Report . Thank you, Debbie for sharing your thoughts on this event! Click on the report above.

For full program details including registration, click HERE to go to the NexTrex website. Program Changes for 2026 The flyer below highlights the new Recycling Challenge Program. Click HERE to print the flyer below to share with your Garden Clubs. Questions? Contact Jackie McCoy, Black Hills District Recycle Chairperson at: nymacjac@gmail.com Olympia Garden Club members sorting plastic!

Programs Floral Design Recycling Conservation Organic Gardening Youth Education Civic Projects Blue Star Marker and MORE!! General Membership Meetings Members of all the Clubs meet twice a year on the 2nd Friday of April and October starting at 10 a.m. at the Thurston County Fairgrounds. Program topics include horticulture, conservation, birds, insects, wildlife, environmental concerns, design and civic improvement. There is also a flower show held where members exhibit the horticulture they grow and exercise their creativity in floral design. GUESTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Let us know you're coming with an email to blackhillsdistrict@gmail.com Follow these links to Ongoing Projects of National Garden Clubs Plant America Blue and Gold Star Memorials Plant-A-Tree National Garden Week Youth Programs Global Partners Running Waters I'm an image title. Describe your image here. IMG_7102 IMG_0238 IMG_0573 I'm an image title. Describe your image here. IMG_0566 IMG_0486 I'm an image title. Describe your image here. IMG_0445 I'm an image title. Describe your image here. Show More IMG_1061 I'm an image title. Describe your image here. I'm an image title. Describe your image here. I'm an image title. Describe your image here. I'm an image title. Describe your image here. I'm an image title. Describe your image here. I'm an image title. Describe your image here. I'm an image title. Describe your image here. I'm an image title. Describe your image here. I'm an image title. Describe your image here. Show More

Clubs Black Hills Flower Designers Meets First Friday (Sept - May) Mt. Greens Mhp, 5140 Yelm Hwy SE, Lacey Contact: Debbie Spiller 206-755-3616 dunespill@gmail.com Friendly Flower Garden Club Meets 1st Monday, Mt. Greens MHP 5140 Yelm Hwy SE, Lacey Contact: Judy Swortz judyswortz@comcast.net Friendly Neighbors Garden Club Meets Second Wednesday Member Homes, Chehalis, Centralia, Rochester, and Lewis County area Contact: Anne Stedham 360-748-6189 annetat@me.com Illahee Garden Club Meets 2nd Wednesday Randle Methodist Church Contact: Sandra Zacher 360-496-8472 s.zacher@outlook.com Kelso Garden Club Meets 3rd Friday Central Christian Church 401 Crawford St, Kelso Kelsogardenclub@gmail.com Olympia Garden Club Last Thursday (Sept - May) Westminster Presbyterian Church 1925 Boulevard Rd. SE, Olympia, WA 98501 Contact: Tara Keen (President) Keengardensoly@gmail.com Join Us!! Our clubs are always looking for new members and it's easy and inexpensive to join. Just contact any one of the club Presidents listed above. They will be happy to arrange a visit to a club meeting! Club meetings are held throughout Thurston, Lewis, Mason and Cowlitz County, Washington. You are also welcome to communicate with Debbie Spiller, Black Hills District Director, by email with a message to dunespill@gmail.com .

American Horticulture Society Black Hill's Newsletters 2026 The Bugle - Special October 2026 Edition The Bugle - Winter (2025-2026) The Bugle - Summer 2025 The Bugle - Fall The Bugle - Winter (2024-2025) The Bugle - Summer Birding Yakima Valley Audubon Society. 2025 Blue Bird Report Narrative 2026 Blue Bird Spring Report 2026 Blue Bird Summer Report Fire Safety Around Your Home & Neighborhood Click on the links below to learn more about wildfire safety! WA Dept of Natural Resources https://dnr.wa.gov/forest-resilience-division/community-wildfire-resilience-resource-libraryWA Wild Ready Neighbor Signup Page - WA DNR https://wildfireready.dnr.wa.gov/ Firewise USA Page https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa Jack Cohen - Your Home Can Survive a Wildfire" - video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL_syp1ZScM Flower Show Reviews 2025 "A Little Bit of Magic" by Debbie Speller Journey Through Wine Country by Debbie Speller "Strut Your Stuff & TC Fair Review" by Debbie Speller Flower Show Generic Tags Click HERE . Tag is effective 3-12-2026 Horticulture American Peony Society Pacific Northwest Peony Society Master Gardener Foundation of Thurston County NGC Resources & Newsletter NGC Flower Show Handbook - (Rev. September 2026) NGC Flower Show Handbook Updates Only - (Rev. July 2025) NGC The National Gardener Newsletters - Current Issue For previous issues go to: The National Gardener | National Garden Clubs (Have your NGC password ready or create one on the NGC Homepage) Presenter Resources Ikebana International Tacoma-Olympia Chapter #147 Website: https://ii-tacoma-olympia-147.mystrikingly.com Facebook: Tacoma-Olympia 147 Ikebana International Email: ii147tacomaolympia@gmail.com "Coloring Your Garden with Japanese Maples" Julia Graham Email: juliagraham.garden@gmail.com Phone: 253 232-2806 QR Code for the BHD. To use, copy & paste. WA State Botanical Gardens Bellevue Botanical Garden 12001 Main Street Bellevue, Washington 98005 (425) 452-2750 www.bellevuebotanical.org Bloedel Reserve 7571 NE Dolphin Drive Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110 (206) 842-7631 www.bloedelreserve.org Dunn Gardens 13533 Northshire Rd NW Sea le, Washington 98177 (206) 362-0933 www.dunngardens.org Kruckeberg Botanic Garden 20312 15th Ave NW Shoreline, Washington 98133 (206) 546-1281 www.kruckeberg.org Lake Wilderness Arboretum 22520 SE 248th St Maple Valley, Washington 98038 (253) 293-5103 www.lakewildernessarboretum.org Lakewold Gardens 12317 Gravelly Lake Drive S.W. Lakewood, Washington 98499 (253) 584-4106 www.lakewoldgardens.org PowellsWood Garden 430 South Dash Point Road Federal Way, Washington 98003 (253) 529-1620 h p://powellswood.org Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden 2525 S 336th St Federal Way, Washington 98003 (253) 838-4646 www.rhodygarden.org W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory 316 South G Street Tacoma, Washington 98405 (253) 404-3975 www.metroparkstacoma.org/conservatory Washington Park Arboretum 2300 Arboretum Drive East Sea le, Washington 98112 (206) 325-4510 www.arboretumfounda on.org WSFGC Blue Star/Gold Star Memorial Guide and Pricing Sheet (2026) NGC Blue Star/Gold Star Guidebook (2026) Sewah Foundry Pricing Sheet (2026) WSFGC Award Information Guide & Award Forms Click HERE to go to the WSFGC Awards webpage for WSFGC Awards Information Guide (2025-2027) and current Award forms. WSFGC 2025 Awards Booklet WSFGC Newsletters G arden & Design Newsletter - Winter 2026 Garden & Design Newsletter - Fall 2025 Garden & Design Newsletter - Summer 2025 WSFGC Program & Meeting Guide Program & Meeting Guide (Rev. 6/26) WSFGC Vision Of Beauty Calendar Instructions/Form (3-31-2026) Note: Deadline to submit is August 15, 2026!

Resource Information If you have educational or recycling information you'd like to include on this page, please send it to Jackie McCoy. Email: blackhillsdistrictbugle@gmail.com Cascadia Venom Collection Free removal of hornet and yellow j acket nest removal in South Puget Sound . - Home Recycling Programs Easy pickups from your front door for plastic items, batteries, light bulbs, textiles and more!

Black Hills District Affiliate Members Fuchsia Fanciers Non-profit organization whose members are located in/around the Chehalis/Centralia area. Meetings: Second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m., Borst Park. Contact: Alisa Eggen, President Email: alisaeggen@gmail.com Phone: 253-970-3863 We are under the umbrella of the Northwest Fuchsia Society . Budding Design Guild Non-profit club whose members learn about flower design techniques for flower shows and personal development. Meetings: October 6th at 10:00 AM - South Bay Fire Department, Olympia, WA Contact: Debbie Spiller, President Email: dunespill@gmail.com Phone: 206 755-3616 South Sound Dahlia Society An organization for dahlia enthusiasts based in Olympia, WA. Meetings: Contact: Betty Maynaham, President Email: Bettylovesant@comcast.net Phone: 360 490-8561 See them on Facebook!